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It's Not Personal

Israel and the U.S. have always had rough patches. This, too, will pass.

By DANNY DANON

January 17, 2014

The relationship between the United States and the State of Israel is stronger than ever. As Israel’s deputy defense minister, I know that the level of military, intelligence and diplomatic cooperation between our two countries is at an unprecedented level. At the same time, however, we must admit that real disagreements exist on specific policy matters. These differences are nothing new, and are very likely to appear again over the next few months.

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Much has been made over the past few weeks about remarks that Israeli and American officials on both sides may or may not have made about their colleagues. The media focus on these seemingly personal matters misses the point. The differences that come up from time to time between our two countries are not of a personal nature, but rather about specific policy. Twenty years from now we won’t remember who said what about whom, but who stood strong and safeguarded the safety of their citizens and national interests of their countries. More importantly, those who think that these instances will derail our special relationship do not understand the depth and quality of our bond, which has successfully overcome such difficulties many times in the past.

Still, the differences between us are real. It is no secret that many in Israel, myself included, are deeply concerned about some of the proposals raised by the U.S. administration regarding the ongoing negotiations with the Palestinians. While we appreciated the original thinking of the Americans, we are profoundly aware that when it comes to our most vital security needs, Israel must always act in its own best interest even if it means uncomfortable conflict with our greatest ally. The good news is that history teaches us that the American-Israeli relationship is strong enough to weather such differences.

In December, we marked 64 years to Prime Minister David Ben Gurion’s brave decision to move our parliament, the Knesset, from Tel Aviv to the capital city of Jerusalem. Ben Gurion rightly proclaimed, “Jerusalem is an organic and inseparable part of the State of Israel.” International condemnation was quick to follow. The United Nations voted for a second time in favor of declaring Jerusalem an “international” city. The Truman administration, despite its pro-Israel record, made its displeasure abundantly clear and voted in favor of the U.N. resolution.

Danny Danon is deputy defense minister of Israel and the author of Israel: The Will to Prevail.